Hello, I'm Detective Aguirre with the Mesa Police Department's Media Relations Unit. This critical incident community briefing is intended to provide viewers with accurate information about a shooting that occurred in Mesa and involved Mesa police officers. We will share information related to this case to help people understand important details based on the facts as we know them now. It is important to remember that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The images and language in this video may be disturbing and viewer discretion is advised. On July 17th, 2026 at approximately 11:03 p.m. Mesa police officers responded to an apartment complex located near Dobson and Broadway Road after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting possible gunshots. >> 911 emergency. >> Hi, um, there is gunshots outside my uh apartment. It's 5300 South Dobson Road. >> Okay, we do have officers pulling in right now. Do you have a visual of anybody? Are you involved in any way? >> Ye- yes, actually uh it was a African-American man. Uh he was probably about uh 30s or 40s. >> shooting? >> Uh uh yes, I saw him have a gun like right outside the window. He had a gun. >> When officers arrived on scene, they located a deceased adult male with an apparent gunshot wound. >> Hey, we got a victim on the ground. >> Officers began their investigation. They developed a lead on a suspect that directed them to a nearby apartment complex just north of the shooting. Just after midnight, officers established a perimeter outside an apartment unit and a short time later, officers made contact with a man inside the apartment. Officers attempted to speak to the man, but he refused to come outside. >> Oh, he's talking. He's talking. He's in the window. >> Abishai, this is Mason Police Department. Put your hands up. We're outside. WE'RE WATCHING YOUR HANDS. This is the Mason Police Department. >> Officers identified the suspect as 46-year-old Abishai Ben Israel. A subsequent records check revealed Israel had an extensive felony history, including prior firearms-related Offenses. Officers continued to negotiate with Israel and encouraged him to come out of the apartment. >> Why, lady? Why are you personally attacking me? >> Abishai, come on the first floor of your residence with your hands up and nothing in your hands. >> Israel contacted 911 stating officers were outside his apartment and telling him to come out. The call operator asked Israel to confirm his identity and verify he was home by himself. >> 911 emergency. >> Hello, I have a bunch of police officers outside my window. They're calling my name. They're asking me to come outside and going to use force. I am paranoid schizophrenic. I don't I don't know what the police are outside my window for. I need an attorney. I need an attorney. Send me an attorney. >> alone? >> Yes, I'm alone. I'm always alone. I live alone. I'm I've been here three Everybody know who I am. The police outside my door know exactly who I am. >> Later, during communications with a police negotiator, Israel threatened to shoot if officers continued talking to him over the loudspeaker. >> Israel, keep on the loudspeaker, guess what? I've got enough rounds to cover me for at least 10 minutes. For at least 10 minutes. >> Around 2:15 a.m., Israel fired multiple rounds towards officers from inside his apartment. >> In response to the gunfire, four Mesa police officers fired multiple rounds from their rifles. Neither officers nor Israel were injured during the exchange of gunfire. Following the exchange of gunfire, officers continued giving Israel commands to surrender. Israel eventually exited the apartment where he remained non-compliant. Officers deployed less-lethal beanbag rounds and a taser, allowing them to take Israel into custody. Israel was later charged with nearly 40 counts of aggravated assault and weapons misconduct offenses. As a result of the original shooting investigation, Israel was charged with second-degree murder. This officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Scottsdale Police Department as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team protocol or EVOCERT. EVOCERT includes the Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Tempe Police Departments. EVOCERT provides for greater transparency and accountability because agencies involved in the critical force incident will not be directly involved in the investigation. Thank you for taking time to watch this critical incident community briefing.